Located in Cincinnati, OH the Contemporary Arts Center aims to bring contemporary art culture to all people. Visitors will find a large array of exhibitions and experiences meant to educate and engage them in the contemporary artistic ideas of today.

History:

In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, jobs for artists were scarce. Peggy Frank, Rita Rentschler, and Betty Ruah understood all too well about the lack of career options and began to grow more and more frustrated.

Upon the advice of Edward Warburg, founder of the American Ballet, the three starving artists decided to start the Modern Art Society in 1939. In one year alone, using only a desk in their living room and a portable typewriter, the trio managed to raise $5,000. Slowly they began to acquire some unbelievable works, including pieces by Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, Klee, and Beckman.

The Modern Art Society changed its name in 1964 to the Contemporary Arts Center as they established an exhibition space in downtown Cincinnati. The space was a hit! Visitors from far and wide began flooding to the center and in 2003, the center outgrew its home and moved to the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center.

Currently, the center receives thousands of visitors a year and has established itself as one of the top modern and contemporary art centers in the country.

Additional Information:

Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Phone: 513-345-8400